Maoist held guilty of Hindu leader's killing

A court in Odisha Tuesday convicted a Maoist for the murder of a Hindu leader and four of his aides in 2008, a lawyer said. Seven other accused were convicted in the case the day before.

Pulari Rama Rao alias Uday was held guilty by the special additional district sessions court at Phulbani, the headquarters of Kandhamal district, about 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, the lawyer told IANS.

A pistol used in the killing was recovered from Rao, police said.

The court acquitted co-accused Somanatha Dandsena due to lack of evidence, the lawyer said.

The same court Monday convicted seven people for killing Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his aides at Jaleshpata in Kandhamal district Aug 23, 2008.